Hugo Chávez: a life in pictures

Hugo Chávez: a life in pictures

The Venezuelan leader, who has died aged 58, had a colourful presidency. A failed coup in 1992 propelled him into the limelight but it was his ballot box triumphs that made him a inspiration for the resurgent Latin American left

Tuesday 5 March 2013 18.30 EST

1992: Lieutenant Colonel Hugo Chávez, centre, is escorted by military intelligence officers after being arrested for trying to overthrow Venezuela's government

2005: Hugo Chávez and Fidel Castro have fun with a medallion, a gift from students at the Latin American School of Medical Science in Havana. The longtime friends visited each other in hospital during their illnesses

2012: Chávez greets his supporters after receiving news of his re-election in Caracas. After almost 14 years in power, he had apparently beaten cancer and the most formidable opponent of his presidency, Henrique Capriles